Conduit-driving machine



Sept. 30, 1930. A H. SLOAN 1,776,798

CONDUIT DRIVING MACHINE Original Filed June 2'7, 1927 /N VENTOB Arfhur H Sloan.

A TTOBNEY Patented Sept. 30, 1930 v UNITED STATES .IPATENT OFFICE ARTHUR H. SLQAN, or rimme -rumors, ASSIGNOR- T0 ALLENL. GOLINKIN, or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS I GONDUITIDRIVI1\TG hlZACI-IINE Application filed June 27, 1927, Serial No. 201,763; Renewed June 24, 1929.

My invention relates to an improved construction of conduit driving machine for driving or pushing conduit under roadways and other locations where excavating to' lay the conduit is impractical. Heretofore mechanisms of this kind have been hand operated in one way oranother and the work has not only been arduous but also slow as a result. By my invention I provide power actuated mechanism for drivingor pushing the conduit through the ground, this mechanism consisting preferably of a cylinder with its axis substantially parallel with the conduit, a piston in the cylinder adapted for operation by suitable fluid under pressure, and devices-ifor communicating the pressure on the piston to a length of conduit to force it through the earth. 'More specifically, my invention provides a framework for location on the surface of the ground adjacent the trench provided to permit driving the co n duit, a part of the framework preferably extending into the trench, and a movable structure carried by the framework to slide parallel with the cylinder and having an offset head extending intothe trench toengage the length of conduit being driven, the head being connected with a piston rod extending into the cylinder and there connected with the piston. By my invention I also provide pressure producing and controlling mechanism so that the requisite pressure may be exerted on either jsideof the piston as desired, to either drivea length of conduit into the ground,

'orto withdraw it therefrom in the event it strikes an obstruction." I lind: it advisable to use as the driving fluid, liquid of some kind instead of gas, on account of the liquid being practically non-compressible and for this purpose I find that oil is quite satisfactory.

To prevent waste of theliquid, I preferably arrange the system so that the liquid mayfiow ina closed path to and from a storage tank, which 'not only prevents loss of the liquid, but also providesameans for compensating for theunequal volumes of the two ends of the cylinder due to thespace occupied by the piston rod. I also provide a convenient valve mechanismforapplying pressure as desired- .to either side of the piston and for permitting the pumping mechanism to idle as may be required when inserting alength of conduit to be driven. I

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof in which 1 Fig. l showsmy conduit driving mechanism in side elevation in place for use, and also illustratesdiagrammatically the pressure producing mechanism, the ground being shown in section in the view to illustrate the trench in which the work is being done,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line2 2, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 3-3. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in the drawings, my mechanism' consists of a framework 10 adapted to rest on the surface of the ground, from one end of which framework, a members 11 extends downwardly along one end of the trench 12 in .which the work is to be done. The lower end of the frame member 11 is preferably connected with bottom frame anembers 13 adjacent the bottom of the trench. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 8, the frame 10 may consist of vertically disposed channel bars 10" and 10 fastened together in separated relation by a bottom plate 14:,the flanges of the channel bars extending towards each other.

ber16 is disposed resting on the 'uppersurfaces of the upper iiangesof the channel bars 10 and 10 this member consisting preferably of channel bars 16 and l6"'con'nected at their upper flanges by a plate 17 with their flanges extending away froineach other and in separated relation so that their lower the space between the end portions of, the.

' webs of the channel bars 16 and 16 to which of the parts of .the member 16 and of t it is rigidly secured preferably by bolts. The driving head 19 extends vertically and is of a sufficient length to extend slightly below the upper edges of the channel bars 13 and 13 and the lower end of the head 19. may conveniently be recessed as indicated at 19? to form bearing surfaces on the upper edges of the channel bars 13 and 13 to guide the lower end of the head.

Between the channel bars 10mm 10 I dispose a metal cylinder 20 containing a pisston 21 secured to one end of a piston rod 22 the otherend of which extensthrough the right hand end of the cylinder 2Ov as indicated in Fig. 1, and into the head 19 at 19 where it is rigidly securedto the head 19.

In using the mechanism,fluid under pressure may be communicated to either. the left hand end or the right hand end ofthe cylinder. 20, for the relation shown in Fig. 1, by pipes 23 and 2 1 respectively, and when pressure is so communicated by the pipe 23, the piston 21, piston rod 22, head 19 and: member 16 are moved to. the rightrelatively to the frame 10. Similarly, comnnmicating pressure to the cylinder 20 through the pipe 24 moves the parts last referred to, to the left. .In using the mechanism, it will of course be understood that the frame 10may. if found necessary, be anchored tothe ground in any convenient way, althoughthe relation of the member 11 and member 13, serves to hold the main frame 10 in place against thrusts exerted on the head for usual conditions of operation. The relation ofthe parts is such that the member 16 must move parallel. with the'axis of the cylinder, the size he head 19 being such as to withstand any driving, thrusts exerted upon the lower end of 'the head, without deformation of the mem- In this way all her 16 or of the head '19. bending stress is removed from. the piston rod 22, which'is required only to withstand the stress of compression or tension as the case may be, required to move. the conduit.

In using 'the-inechanisni, the head 19. is moved to the left hand end of the trench, for the relation ofthe parts shown in Fig. 1, so

that it is adjacent the frame member 11, in

which position 'alength of conduit 25 is placed immediately above-the frame members 13, with one end of the conduit in a re eess 19 in the head 19, in which position the conduit 25 may be supported at its free end by a block 27 until the driving is begun. For this condition, when the head 19 is moved to the right, the conduit- 25 is forced into the ground until the said driving head is adjacent the right hand end of the trench, when the head 19 is withdrawn and moved to the left as far as it will go; then a second length of conduit is screwed onto the conduit 25 by means of screw threads 25 and the operation is repeated until the desired length of conduit is forced through the ground. In the event it is necessary to withdraw a length of conduit, the recess 19.- may be threaded to engage the threads 25 so that motion of the head 19 to the left with the threads of theconduit in said engagement, will withdraw the length of conduit 25 from the ground so. that it may be starl'ml in a different location.

The means. illustrated for producing and controlling the supplying of fluid under pres sure, tov the cylinder 20, consists preferably of a motor 28 having a drivingsha'l't 29 connected with a pump, 30, which pump. has sup.- ply and discharge pipes 31 and 32 respectively. The pipe 31 connects with a storage tank 33 and the pipe connects with the housing ofa valve. mechanism 34:. lhe housing 34 is also provided; with-a pipe connection 35 fordelivering fluid to thetank33. The pipes 23 and are also, connected with the housing ;3 l,as indicated. The connections of the several pipes to the valve housing 3% are made so that the passageway. 36 of the valve member 37 may connect the pipes 23- and 32, and that they passageway 33in said valve member may connect the pipes 2-l ant. 35 for the position of the valve member indicated in Fig. 1. For tl 's condition, the fluid delivered tothe pipe 32irom the pump 30-is connnunicated through the passageway 36 to the. pipe 23 to produce pressure on the. lefthand side ofgthe piston 21' and the fluid: contained in the cylinder on, the. right hand side of the piston 2Linay flow.- freely throughv pipe 24:, passage.- way 38, and pipe 35 to the tank the flow to the pump 30 being in any case rom the tanl: 33 through the pipe 31. The valve member 37 is connected-with an operating handle 39 which when moved toits alternate position indicated by dotted lines at 39*,

moves the passageway 36 to connect the pipes 23 and 35, ahdalsomoves the passageway 38 to connect the pipes 24 and 32. For this condition, fluid is supplied' under pressure from the pipe 32, through the passageway 38. to the'pipeQQ-i and thus produces pressure on the right hand side of the. piston. 21, and fluid contained on. the. left hand side Ofthe. piston in the cylinderQOflowsfreely through pipe 23, passageway 36 andpipe 35 to the tank 33. In the. event it. is desired to leave the piston 21 in any particular position in the cylinder 20, with the motor 28 in operation, the handle 39'1nay be moved to a position mid-way between the two positions described, for which mid-position a passageway 40 in the valve member 37 establishes direct communication between the pipe 32 and the pipe 35, thus permitting the fluid to circulate freely through said pipes, the connections of the pipes 23 and 24 at this time being cut off from communication with any of the valve passageways. The tank 33 maybe provided with a suitable vent ll to equalize pressures in it for varying-volumesof fluid contained in it. The motor 28 may be of any convenient type, for example an internal combustion motor, and the pump 30 may be of any type desired, for example a rotary pump,

and as stated, I find that oil answers admirably as an operating fluid for the system.

From the above it will appear that conduit may be rapidly driven, regardless of resisting pressures, as long as it can be driven at all, and that the labor heretofore required in doing this work is eliminated by the use of my mechanism.

IVhile I have shown my invention in'the particular embodiment above described, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to this exact construction as I may employ equivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of this application without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a conduit driving machine, the combination of a framework carrying a guide way, a member movable longitudinally on said guideway, a cylinder carried by said framework with itsaxissubstantially parallel with said guideway, an offset head carried by said member to extend into a trench to drive i a conduit, a pistonln said cylinder, and a piston rod for communicating pressure on" said piston tosaid driving head.

'2. In a conduit driving machine, the combination of a framework carrying a guideway, a member movablelongitudinally on said guideway, a cylinder carried by said framework with its :axis substantially parallel with said guideway, anoffset head car- J ried by said member to extend into. a trench to drive a conduit, a piston in said cylinder, a

piston rod for communicating pressure on said piston to said driving head, and frame members extending from saidframework into and along the lower part of the trench to guide the lower end of said driving head.

3. In a conduit driving machine, the combination of a longitudinally movable conduit driving member, a cylinder and piston, and operating connections between said piston and said member, said member having a lat bination of a framework carrying a guide-. way, a member movable longitudinally on said guideway,-an offset head carried by said member to extend into a trench to drive a conduit, and means for exerting driving pressure upon said head.

6. In a conduit driving machine, the combination of a framework carrying a guideway, a member movable longitudinally on said guideway, an offset head carried by said member to extend'into a trench to drive a conduit, frame members extending from said framework into and along the lower part of the trench to guide the lower end of said driving head, and means for exerting driving pressure upon said head.

7. In a conduit driving machine, the. combination of a longitudinally movable conduit driving member, and means for exerting driving pressure upon said member, said member having a laterally offset portion permitting said member to be above the surface of the ground and the driven conduit to be in a trench.

8. In a conduit driving machine, the combination of a longitudinally movable conduit driving member, means for exerting driving pressure upon said member, said member having a laterally offset portion permitting said member to be above the surface of the ground and the driven conduit to be in a trench, and guideways for said member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto'subscribe my name this 20th day of June, A. D. 1927.

ARTHUR H. SLOAN.

orally offset portion permitting said member I V to be above the surface of the ground and the driven conduit to be in a trench. 

